betteries for SB800

I want to ask if it is safe to use 2700mAh rechargeable batteries (Ni -MH 1.2V) on SB800. Here in Greece Nikon

service told me to use only 2000mAh .

2700mAh NiMH batteries have the same voltage as the 2000mAh versions. The 2700 ones just last longer. There is no reason you cannot use 2700 ones on the SB-800. I do that all the time.

I use them too, very happily. Make sure, though, that you're using a good quality charger... one that can charge them slowly, and which can charge each battery individually. Most less-expensive chargers will stop charging and go into trickle-charge mode as soon as the first battery in the set reaches the expected voltage. That can result in one or two batteries that are under charged. To make the most out of higher-capacity batteries, get a quality charger.

And here is an excellent charger:

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<a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817355011">POWEREX (maha) MH-C800S</a>

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Kind of expensive, but it charges each cell individually to full capacity and can do any combination of 1 - 8

cells at once. There also are other options from that manufacturer that charge faster and/or do different

battery sizes. Look for them online at a suitable merchant for your location.

This charger is nicer.

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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bc-700&x=0&y=0">LaCross

BC-700</a>.<br>

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The BC-900 is virtually identical for the same price. Main difference seems to be the case color.

 

The LaCrosse units have test modes that will charge, discharge, and recharge the batteries to test actual

capacity.

 

I tried this on some no name batteries and found they were no where near the advertised rating. Some good

batteries tested as spec'ed and they last all day on a wedding shoot.

Nikon service speaks wisely.

 

"There is no reason you cannot use 2700 ones on the SB-800."

 

Actually, there are two solid reasons. First, all the 2700mA-H that I have played with (including the "top of line" Sanyo) have had disappointingly high internal resistance. That means that when the flash tries to draw a lot of current, the batteries generate a lot of heat, and waste a lot of their 2700mA-H in creating all that heat.

 

Second, most 2700 mA-H batteries are larger than the AA spec.

 

A "classic" AA Ray-O-Vac alkaline is 13.90mm in diameter, 50.22mm long.

 

Eneloop 2000 mA-H is 14.09 x 50.30mm

 

iPowerUS 2100mAH is 14.31 x 50.46mm

 

Sanyo 2700mA-H is 14.42 x 50.58mm

 

When the Sanyos are hot, as from heavy shooting, they get stuck in the SB-800 and you need to give the flash quite a whack to get them out.

 

That's why my first choice in batteries are the Sanyo Eneloop batteries. Whatever they did to them to give them such wonderful ability to hold charge for months also resulted in low series resistance.

 

Last year, when I put it to the test, fully conditioned and charged with a nice LaCross BC-900, I had the Eneloops come out at just 10 full power SB-800 flashes less than the 2700mA-H, I think it was 160 vs. 170. 6% less flashes from a battery with 26% less mA-H. And the Eneloops come out of the flash much cooler than the 2700mA-H.

 

Less heat = longer equipment life and greater reliability. Win-win.

I use Hahnel 2700 Ni -MH batteries in my SB800 & 900. Recently I staged 15 conferences around 4 southern african countries and took 2500 pictures when I had time, 60% of which were with flash. I only had to charge the batteries once in the flash and the SK6 bracket. Nikon USA mentions use of 2900MaH batteries on their site.

In my experiences with the SB-800, i always use a set of 2650 mah rechargeables and it works fine for me.